Which blood vessels are responsible for carrying blood away from the heart?

Arteries are the blood vessels specifically tasked with carrying blood away from the heart. They play a crucial role in the circulatory system by transporting oxygenated blood to various parts of the body, except for the pulmonary arteries, which carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation. The structure of arteries, characterized by thick, muscular walls, allows them to withstand the high pressure generated when the heart pumps blood.

In contrast, veins are responsible for returning deoxygenated blood back to the heart, while capillaries are the tiny vessels that facilitate the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste products between the blood and tissues. Venules are small blood vessels that collect blood from capillaries and channel it into veins. The unique functions of these other blood vessels highlight the specific role of arteries in the circulatory system.